Ghost hunting

For other uses, see Ghosthunter (disambiguation).
A ghost hunter taking a reading with an EMF meter
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Ghost hunting is the process of investigating locations that are purportedly haunted by ghosts. The practice has been heavily criticized for its dismissal of the scientific method. No scientific study has ever been able to confirm the existence of ghosts.[1][2] Ghost hunting is considered a pseudoscience by the vast majority of educators, academics, science writers and skeptics.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Science historian Brian Regal described ghost hunting as "an unorganized exercise in futility".[3]

Typically, a ghost-hunting team will attempt to collect "evidence" supporting the existence of paranormal activity. Ghost hunters also refer to themselves as paranormal investigators.[11] Ghost hunters use a variety of electronic devices, including EMF meters, digital thermometers, both handheld and static digital video cameras, including thermographic and night vision cameras, night vision goggles, and digital audio recorders. Other more traditional techniques are also used, such as conducting interviews and researching the history of allegedly haunted sites.

  1. ^ Radford, Benjamin (27 October 2006). "The Shady Science of Ghost Hunting". LiveScience. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  2. ^ "Study: No Scientific Basis for Vampires, Ghosts". Associated Press. 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  3. ^ a b Regal, Brian. (2009). Pseudoscience: A Critical Encyclopedia. Greenwood. pp. 43, 75–77. ISBN 978-0-313-35507-3
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference NSF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Dr Olu Jenzen; Professor Sally R Munt (2014). The Ashgate Research Companion to Paranormal Cultures. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. pp. 197–. ISBN 978-1-4724-0612-5.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hill was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Radford was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Schmaltz, Rodney (25 April 2014). "Battling Psychics and Ghosts: The Need for Scientific Skepticism". Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  9. ^ Campbell, Hank (27 August 2014). "Think Pseudoscience Isn't Dangerous? Ghost Hunter Looking For Ghost Train Killed By Real One". Science 2.0. ION Publications. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Potts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cohen, Howard (September 19, 2009). "Ghost hunters say Deering Estate is ground zero for lost spirits". The Miami Herald. Archived from the original on October 10, 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.